Category: Lifestyle

  • Trans activist Shahzadi Rai shares video of extremists stalking her home

    Trans activist Shahzadi Rai shares video of extremists stalking her home

    Prominent Karachi-based transgender activist Shehzadi Rai shared a triggering video on her Twitter page of two men stalking her home. In the clip the men be seen turning away when they spot the camera. Rai wrote in a tweet that she was terrified for her life, because the men were threatening her with bottles of acid.

    People tagged the Sindh police in replies to help Rai.

    The Current reached out to Rai for a statement, and she revealed that she did not know why the men were stalking her. Rai also shared that this was the fourth time these men had appeared outside her house, and that she was going to the police to get them arrested.

    Member of the Provincial Assembly Sindh Sharjeel Memon condemned the incodent on Twitter and asked Rai to send him relevant details.

    Rai later revealed in a video uploaded to her Twitter account that she was present at the Shahar E Faisal police station and called for better protection of the khwajasara community by the police.

    Rai also shared a picture of the police case filed against her stalkers and thanked the Sindh Govt for understanding the sensitivity of the situation by deploying police forces outside her home



  • In just 24 hours, woman who married herself considered divorce

    In just 24 hours, woman who married herself considered divorce

    After only 24 hours of being her own spouse, a woman who claimed to have married herself has said that she is considering getting a divorce. 25-year-old Sofi Maure took to social media in February to inform her fans and followers that she had “married herself”. She also posted pictures donning a white bridal gown and a gold tiara. 

    “Today, in the most spurious moments of my life, I bought a wedding dress and cooked a wedding cake to marry myself,” she said.

    Social media users had strong thoughts about her decision with some supporting Sofi, while others said the whole thing was for “attention”.

    Despite the support from some followers, it seems the loved-up solo bride was soon left questioning her commitment – as just a day later, on 20 February, she declared that divorce was imminent.

    “Update: one day I’m married to myself and I can’t take it anymore, I’m seeing how the divorce issue is just in case,” she said.

  • Ali Sadpara’s son all set to summit world-highest peaks in Nepal without oxygen

    Ali Sadpara’s son all set to summit world-highest peaks in Nepal without oxygen

    Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of famous mountaineer late Muhammad Ali Sadpara, has reached Nepal to summit some of the world’s highest mountains without supplemental oxygen.

    He is going to climb Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Makalu (8,481m) peaks, reports Dawn.

    They are the world’s third, seventh, and fifth-highest mountains, respectively. The climber said his mission will be completed in three months.

    In an Instagram post Sadpara put up on Saturday, he shared that he is all set to summit Mountain Annapurna, 8091m high, considered to be among the deadliest of high peaks due to avalanche prone slopes and shifting ice.

    At home, Sajid Ali Sadpara has twice climbed K2 — the world’s second-highest mountain — one time without supplemental oxygen. In 2022, he summited the Manaslu peak without supplemental oxygen, becoming the first Pakistani to achieve the feat.

    Earlier this year, he announced the “K-2 Clean Up Campaign”, a voluntary cleanliness campaign that will start in June this year.

    In February 2021, Sajid Sadpara survived an expedition in which his famous father, Iceland’s John Snorri and Chile’s Juan Pablo Mohr went missing while attempting to summit K2 during the winter season.

  • Islamabad High Court upholds Zahir Jaffer death sentence

    Islamabad High Court upholds Zahir Jaffer death sentence

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has announced its verdict on appeals filed against the sentences awarded to the convicts and the acquittal of co-accused in the Noor Mukadam murder case, upholding the death sentence given to prime accused, Zahir Jaffer.

    The IHC reserved its verdict on appeals in the high-profile case in which Jaffer was sentenced to death after a long-drawn-out trial of over four months.

    27-year-old Noor was found dead at the residence of the prime suspect, Jaffer, in Islamabad’s F-7/4 Sector on July 20, 2021, beheaded by her murderer.

    The gruesome murder sent shockwaves across the country and sparked nationwide outrage and calls for justice for Noor, cumulating in a sensational trial and eventual convictions.

  • Students at LUMS held a shadi night and the result was heartwarming

    Parties at universities are suppose to be mix of dinner and long speeches, but LUMS students decided to take the festivities a step ahead and came up with a brilliant but bizzare concept: shaadi day!

    How does that work? Well, a campaign is held after which two seniors are picked to become the bride and groom leading to a three-day long a mock wedding.

    Lums students have shared footage from the events and it was truly wholesome to witness.

    https://twitter.com/lilcosmicowgirl/status/1635165464598032384?s=20

    Unlike the bigotry and violence we are witnessing in universities on a daily basis, it is heart warming that some students are putting on their creative hats to plan something like this. What these students are doing was amazing, and we hope more institutions follow through to make inclusive events for some light hearted fun.

    For the haters calling this cringey and over hyped, why are you so critical of other people’s joy? Especially given how many incidents of bigotry and violence keep happening in universities, we should stop policing students so much and let them have fun.

    https://twitter.com/copechandani/status/1635189833659486211?s=20
  • Lahori students to get free rides on Orange, Metro line

    In a bid to provide easier access to transportation, public train systems Orange Line and Metro Line in Lahore will provide free transportation facilities to students in school uniforms, Samma has reported.

    The decision was announced by the Caretaker CM Punjab Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi on Sunday, in order to help students attend their schools punctually and also lessen the financial burden of travelling costs on their families.

    Students will only need to be dressed in school uniforms in order to receive a free ride.

  • Male Iranian pharmaceutical employees start wearing hijabs to protest against sexist govt policy

    Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad has shared a clip of male pharmaceutical workers actively resisting a sexist policy introduced by the Iranian Drug & Food Administration which had ordered women to start wearing black veils at their workplaces. Alinejad wrote in a tweet:

    “Iran’s Food & Drug Administration has ordered pharmacies to force their female staff to wear black veils at workplace. Iranian men are mocking this order and supporting their female colleagues by wearing hijab. Compulsory hijab is the main pillar of a religious relationship. Together we will bring this wall down.”

    Alinejad called for international pharmacists to support their Iranian colleagues in their fight for gender equality, as many women have lost their jobs because they protested against compulsory hijab laws:

    “I call on international pharmacists to support their Iranian colleagues. Many women lost their job for the crime of resisting compulsory hijab laws. Forcing women to wear hijab is an insult to all women and men across the globe. Human rights is a global matter. Show your solidarity.”

    Compulsory hijab has been in the eye of the storm in Iran, leading to strikes and demonstrations across Iran after the death of 22 year old Mahsa Amini, who died under custody of the morality police after refusing to abide by the strict hijab rules. Many women continue to remove their hijab in order to protest against the compulsory law, stating that it denies them social and political freedom.

    Speaking to RFE, an unnamed psychologist said: “Women see it as their absolute right, a right they have been denied for years. I’m protesting the status quo.”

  • ‘Stop lying’: Imaan Zainab, Aurat March protesters criticize Sherry Rehman for tone-deaf tweet

    At the Aurat March protest held in Islamabad on March 8, police officers were caught on camera assaulting female protestors and pushing them back by installing barbed wires.

    Politicians like the Minister of Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, condemned the clashes in a tweet and called for an inquiry on the conduct of the police officers who had brutally beaten the female protesters.

    Lawyer and activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Haazir called Rehman out, writing in a tweet that the Minister had done nothing to prevent the police from preventing the peaceful protest from going on.

    “You came to the march for a photo-op and left after creating complete chaos which we were then dealing with for the next hour. You were rude to us in our meeting with you on 6 March and were aware of all the risks we were taking. Please save this drama for someone who believes it. Too little, too late.”

    Rehman responded to Mazari-Hazir’s tweet saying that she had left early due to a distress call, and offered an opportunity to meet all year round rather than just for a “one year episodic march”.

    “Oh please. I did not need your “photo op”; left a fully scheduled press con at PID (anyone can check) at 2.40 becoz I got a distress call. In my office I offered u a safe space thru the year to meet and build traction, not just a one year episodic march. With my broken shoulder I stood there but many were caught up in angry sloganeering. Have been the butt of many laathi charges but never behaved like this. Rudeness is never going to get u allies or grow solidarity. All the best”

    Mazari-Hazir then criticized Sherry Rehman for reducing Aurat March to a “one year episodic march”.

    “Calling it ‘just a 1 year episodic march’ shows what you really think of it. That in itself is sad. This ‘one year episodic march’ is a global practice- doesn’t mean collectives (or even individuals within them) are not working year round. Could have criticized what I said without punching down on movement.”

    Other Aurat March protestors also criticized the minister, calling her “condescending” for interrupting the trans performers present at the march.

    This user wrote: “You were extremely condescending to all of us whn we met u. You interrupted the Trans persons’ perfrmance by standing over them knowing fully well tht the media will follow u. U brought out the inner transphobes in the media persons who thn started strampling the trans performers”

    Another activist, Fauzia Yazdani tweeted how Rehman had refused to condemn the police officers who had started harassing and pushing back the protestors

  • Video of man adding more oil to salan has Twitter in tears

    Video of man adding more oil to salan has Twitter in tears

    Chahe kuch bhi ho, tufan ajaye, bijli kat jaye, mulk mein nokri na mile, leiken Lahoriyon ki khaanay kay saath love story kabhi khatam nahi honi.

    A video of a man in a restaurant adding a bucket of ghee that could last a month for a family, into a cooking pot, is driving Twitter to tears.

    Exactly how much ghee is too much for Lahoris? Seems like the number doesn’t exist.

    Ever since this video went viral, users have been in fits on how seriously Lahoris take their food.

    And I oop

    https://twitter.com/sher_bangla/status/1633679595638497282?s=20

    How to tell someone isn’t Lahori without telling they’re not Lahori? This

    https://twitter.com/saram_rana/status/1633607981030932481?s=20

    Wheezing

    *cricket noises*

  • Man behind viral Aurat March poster shares inspiring story about his mother

    Man behind viral Aurat March poster shares inspiring story about his mother

    ‘I march for my mom who was not allowed to go to school’; so stated a placard at the Aurat March, pictures of which went viral on Twitter.

    Now Ehtesham Hassan, the man behind the poster, has taken to Twitter to share the inspiring story of his mother.

    Hassan revealed that since the age of 10, his mother was fond of reading and writing and had wanted to go to school like her brothers did.

    When his mother expressed her desire to her grandmother, she purchased a takhti for her because of which the mother was able to go two school for two days. Hassan revealed that every night, his mother would clean the takhti with mud so that she could use it again the next day.

    However, Hassan said it was Maulana Fazal Rehman heard about his mother going to school and forbade her family from sending her because this way the girl would write letters to the men and violate the honor of her family.

    Hassan narrated that his mother was restricted from going to school, a fact that she is sorrowful about to this day. Hassan said that being deprived of her fundamental right to receive an education, and not being supported by her family is the reason why he choose to march today so that no other woman would be treated this way.

    Since the story was posted yesterday, women on Twitter have praised Hassan for pasionately defending the right of women to receive education, calling his thread a moving tribute to his mother.

    Many women said they had witnessed the same in their families.

    “This is the story of both my maternal & paternal grandmothers. They were both not allowed to go to school after 8th grade. They made sure their daughters were highly educated – they advocated for them against hell or high water,” this user wrote.

    Another user wrote: “Mother’s carried the burden of thier broken dreams and planted seeds of hope for future generations. She might not have gone to school but her son’s daughter would! Women have been forebearers of a silent revolution for generations.”

    We hope that more men out there step out of their bubble and follow the lead of Hassan to empower the women of their lives to never stop reaching for their dreams.